Ribbon reversing mechanism



Nov. l1I 1952 R. E zuM BAHLEN ETAL 2,617,513

RIBBON REVERSINGMECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 30, 1949 )Yago/252117 EQ2/Ellen Nov. 1I, 1,952 R. E- `zUM BAHLEN E-r-A'l, 617,513

RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 30, 1949y 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 11, 1952 R. E. zulM BAHLEN ETAL 2,617,513

RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 30, 1949 mmzh .Nv. l1, 1952 R. E. zuM BAHLEN ETAL 2,617,513

RIBBON REvERsING- MECHANISM Filed Dec. so. 1949 5 sheets-sheet 4 Nov. ll, 1952 R. E. zuM BA1-LEN Erm.

RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 30, 1949- 5` Sheets-S1168?. 5

FlEll] 2M/@QAM Patented Nov. 1l, Y1952 RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM Ralph E. Zum Bahlen, Homewood, and Leland" H. Snyder, Lincolnwood, Ill., assignors to Stenographic Machines, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 30, 1949, Serial No. 135,902

2 Claims. (Cl. 197-165) The present invention relates to a shorthand machine of the character that is provided with a plurality of type bars equipped with type that operate against a rotatable platen. A sheet of paper is mounted to pass over the platen and an inked ribbon is disposed between the type and the paper so that as the type strikes the platen, the inked impression of the type is deposited onto the paper.

The ribbon is mounted on a spool and is progressively fed from this first spool across the path of the type onto a -second spool. Each time a typed impression is made a fresh portion of the inked ribbon is fed into the path of the type so that no part of the ribbon isxused twice in succession by the same type.

After most of the ribbon has been fed from the first spool onto the second spool as the result of a succession of strokes of the type bars, the direction of feed of the ribbon is reversed so as to return the ribbon from the second spool onto the first spool. Once again this return movement is progressive in response to the strokes of the type bars.

The present invention has to do primarily with this ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism. It is important that the feed be uniform and that reversal of the direction of feed be effected at the right moment and without interruption tothe strokes of the type bars.

These type bars are operated by a plurality of key levers. each of which is provided at one of its ends with a key. These keys are all arranged so as to form a keyboard. In machines of the shorthand variety it is very important that the touch of the keys be soft. In other words, the effort required to depress the keys should be very slight. It is equally important that at all times this touch be uniformly soft. Since the movement of the inked ribbon responds to the depressions of the keys, the mechanism bringing about this movement must be smooth in its operation, offering only a minimum amount of resistance. The reversal of feed of the ribbon must likewise be effected Without increasing the amount of force or exertion needed to depress the keys for otherwise the touch of the keys would change every time a reversal in the direction of feed of the ribbon is accomplished.

Shorthand machines of the class described herein are ideal for taking rapid dictation or for reporting rapid conversations or testimony. They are used very effectively for court and conversation reporting Where speed as well as accuracy is of paramount importance. It is, therefore, essential that the machine function perfectly -at all ytimes without interfering with or distracting the operator. Nothing can be more annoying to the operator than to have the ribbon feed fail or lock. Such failures are eliminated by the present invention because the operation of the ribbon mechanism is positive and completely reliable.

All of the foregoing constitute some of the principal objects and advantages of the present invention, others of which will become yapparent from the following description and from' the drawings, in which Fig.,1 is a plan view with a portion broken away, of a shorthand machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view taken through the machine, a portion of the machine mechanism being illustrated in elevation, and showing in particular the drive for the ribbon mechanism;

Fig. 3 isa longitudinal sectional view taken through the machine with portions of the machine mechanism illustrated in elevation and illustrating the clutch drive mechanism for the machine platen;

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevational view of the drive mechanism for the ribbon and theclutch drive mechanism for the machine platen;

Fig. .5 is an enlarged top plan view of the ribbon drive and reversing mechanism with the ribbon spools mounted in place and showing the reversing mechanism in position for driving the right hand spool;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the ribbon drive and reversing mechanism, the view being taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, lfragmentary plan view of the drive shaft and clutch mechanism for yoperating the ribbon;

- Fig.l 8 is a transverse sectional view taken through the shaft along the line 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 with the ribbon spools removed and showing the reversing mechanism in position for driving the left hand spool;

Fig. l0 is a verticalsectionalview through the ribbon drive and reversing mechanism, the view being taken along the line |0--l0 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ribbon that is operated by the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive lshowing in particular the lug that actuates the reversing mecharusm.

For purposes of illustration a single embodiment of the present invention has been selected for description, though it is recognized'that numerous modifications may be made in this specific embodiment without departing from the intended scope of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings, the present invention is illustrated in connection with a shorthand machine generally indicated at I5 that is used for recording dictation, conversation or the like, phonetically. The machine very generally comprises a frame that includes spaced side frame members I6. Mounted between these side frame members and supported thereby is a type bar assembly generally indicated at I1 and a platenv I8, the latter of which is rotatably mounted between the side frame members I6. The type bar assembly I1 includes a plurality of type bars |1a. that are adapted to move back and forth in a direction at right angles to the axis of the platen I8 and each type bar is provided with a head portion I9.

on which is mounted the type letters or numerals. These type bars I1a are mounted in a conventional manner and are caused to move back and forth by a plurality of key levers 20, on one end of each of which is a key 2|. These keys 2| are arranged to form a keyboard and upon depressing one of these keys 2 I, the corresponding type bar |1a is caused to move so that the head 9 engages the platen I8. The structure and mechanism connecting the keys to the type bars |1a form no part of the present invention and since this is now very conventional and wellknown, a more complete description herein is believed unnecessary. l

Mounted on the shaft of the platen I8 is a clutch 22 which may also be of any well-known variety that causes the platen I8 to rotate during the time any of the keys 2| are moving in a downward direction under the force of the operators finger but allows the platen to remain stationary during the period that the key 2| Vis moving upwardly on the return stroke.

Once again the specific structure and operation of the clutch 22 is immaterial to the present invention and consequently a moreV detailed description herein is believed unnecessary. It will be suicient for present purposes to explain merely that each of the key levers 20 as best shown in Fig. 4 operates against a pair of actuating arms 23 that is pivotally mounted on a shaft 24 fixed betweenthe sideV frame members IB in the machine. A pad 25 is mounted on one end of each of the actuating arms 23 and all of the key levers 20 rest on this pad as can be best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus as the keys 2| are depressed each actuating arm 23 is causedvto rock about the shaft 24. Mounted on the opposite end of each actuating arm 23 is an actuating abutment 26, one of which operates a clutch actuating mechanism generally indicated at 21 in Fig. 4 that is connected to the clutch 22.V This clutch actuating mechanism 21 comprises a pair of links 28 and 29, the former of which is pivoted at one end at 30 and at the other end at 3| to one end of the link 29. Theother end of the link 29 is pivotally connected at 32 to one element of the clutch 22. Adjustably mounted on the link 28 as at 33 is a disc member 34 that is adapted to be engaged by the actuating abut'- ment 26. A spring 35 normally urges the crutch mechanism 21 in a downward direction to its normal position illustrated in Fig. 3. When a key 2| is depressed this clutch mechanism 21 is forced upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4 by virtue of the operation of the actuating arm 23 so as to rotate the clutch 22 and hence 4 the platen I8. When the pressure on the key 2| is removed the mechanism returns to the position shown in Fig. 3 causing the clutch 22 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, but during this return movement the platen I8 remains stationary as previously described.

The present invention has to do primarily with the ribbon mechanism which is generally indicated at 36 in Fig. 1. This ribbon mechanism 3B comprises a supporting base 31 which is best shown in Figs. 1 and 5 to 10 inclusive that is fastened to the machine side frame members I6 by means of screws 38 or some other suitable attaching means.' This base 31 includes a flat Yplatform Vportion 39 and as shown in Fig. 10

foot-like portions 40 that are disposed at the opposite ends of the platform. As indicated in Figs. 5 and 9 the platform 39 is longitudinally slotted at 4I and disposed in this slot throughout the length of the platform 39 is a shaft 42 that extends through the foot-like portions 40. One end of the shaft projects beyond the adjacent foot-like portions 40 so as to accommodate thereon a drive wheel 43. A washer 44 is mounted on the other end of the shaft and a screw 45 is threaded into the end of the shaft to nx this end of the shaft to the supporting base 31. Similarly, a washer 43 is mounted against the other end of the shaft on the outside of the drive wheel 43 and a screw 41 threaded into the end of the shaft, fixes the drive wheel 43 in place on the shaft. This drive wheel 43 is keyed to the shaft so that when the wheel rotates, like motion is imparted to the shaft.

Again referring to Figs. Z and 4 it will be noted that one of the actuating arms 23 is also provided with a ribbon driving arm48 that is fixed-to rock with the actuating arm 23. Pivotally mounted on the free ends of the arm 38 is a pawl 49 that is adapted to engage vthe periphery of the drive wheel 43. A spring 59 normally holds this pawl 49 against the periphery of the drive wheel 43. This drive wheel 43 may be made out of rubber, fabric or some other suitable material that provides traction between the surface of the wheel and the pawl`49. The engaging surface of the pawl 49 is also serrated as shown at 49a to increase this traction. As the actuating arm 23 is rocked back and forth in a manner'previously described, this motion is transmitted through the arm i8 and the pawl 49 to rotate the drive wheel 43. When viewed in Fig. 4 the downward movement of the key 2i moves the pawl 49 in a downward direction so as to rotate the drive wheel 43 in a counterclockwise direction. During the return stroke of the key 2| to its normal position illustrated in Fig. 3, the pawl 49 merely slides over the surface of the drive wheel d3, but the wheel itself remains stationary during this return movement of the pawl. Referring to Fig. 2 a holding pawl 92 is pivotally mounted at 93. A drive wheel engaging portion 94 serrated at 95 is provided on the free end of the pawl 92 and'is adapted to engage the periphery of the drive wheel-43- in a clockwise directionas viewed in` Fig. 2 to maintain pressure contact between the wheel-engaging portion 9.4 *and the periphery of the drive wheel. This holding pawl 92 prevents'rotation of the drive wheel 43 during theV return stroke of the first mentioned pawl 49 but allows'the 'drive wheel 43 to be rotated during thedownward stroke ofV keys 2|. Since the drive wheel d'sis keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft 42, rotation of the drive wheel 43 causes rotation of the shaft.

Referring now `to Fig. 10 two gears 5| and- 52 are loosely Ymounted on the shaft 42 .at opposite ends thereof. Each of these gears and 52 as best shown in Fig. 7 is provided withan inwardly extending clutch element 53 that comprises essentially a collar member having a plurality of tooth-like slots 54 spaced about the peripheral edge of the collar. v

Again referring to Fig. there is also mounted on the shaft 52 a sleeve 55 that is elongated but is somewhat shorter in length than the distance between the clutch elements 53- spaced at `the opposite ends of the shaft. This sleeve 55 is keyed as at 55 tothe shaft 42 so that any rotating motion imparted on the shaft 42 is transmitted to fthe sleeve 55. Each end of the sleeve l55 is provided with a clutch element 5l that has a pair of outwardly projecting clutch teeth 58 adapted to venter the tooth-like slots 54 in the adjacent clutch element 53. The sleeve 55 is adapted to slide longitudinally along theshaft 42 to permit one or the other of the clutch elements 51 to couple with the adjacent clutch element 53. As shown in Fig. 10 the clutch element 5'! on the right hand side of the sleeve 55 is coupled with the adjacent clutch element 53 that is disposed on the right hand end of the shaft 132. If the sleeve 55 were shifted to the other end of the shaft l2 as shown in Fig. 5, then the clutch element 5l at the left hand end of the sleeve 55 is coupled with clutch .element 59. l ince the clutch element 53 is loosely mounted on the shaft i2 it can be rotated by shaft 32 only when the sleeve 55 is disposed in position to couple the corresponding clutch element 5l with the adjacent clutch element 53.

4Secured to the top of the platform member 39 is a pair of spaced upstanding posts 59 and 59, bothof which are mounted with their vertical centerline disposed directly over the longitudinal center line of the slot 5| in the platform 39. Each of these posts 59 and 953 is provided with a base iiangel and is firmly secured to the platform member in some suitable manner. Mounted on the post 59 is a spool driven gear 52 that is held on the post by means of a split lock ringl 63 that ,fits in a groove inthe wall of the post 59. Similarly, a spool driven gear 5d is concentrically mounted on post 65 and is locked in place by a split ring 55. Each of the gears 92V and 64 is adapted to rotate about itsrespective 'post 59 and 60.

As best shown in Fig.. 9 peripheral gear teeth G5 are provided on the gears 52 and 54. These `vteeth 55 on geariSZv mesh with the teeth on the gear 52 that is Adisposed on the right hand end (as viewed in Figs. 9 and l0) of shaft d2, whereas the teeth on the gear 55 mesh with thegear--5i tha-t is disposed on the left hand end of the shaft ft2. Thus any rotating motion of either of the gears 5i or 52 impart rotating motion to the corresponding gears 64 or 52 about its respective post 59 or 69. A ribbon spool 61a is adapted to be mounted on post 59 and similarly a ribbon spool 5l?) is adapted to be mounted on post 69. Each of these spools is held in place on its respective post by a threaded hold-down screw 58.

Again referring to Fig. 9 each of the gears 52 and 55 is provided with a plurality of apertures 69 spaced about the gear and as shown in Fig. 10 each of the ribbon spools 61a and 5l?) is provided with a downwardly projecting lug 'f that enters one of these apertures 69 in the corresponding gear 52 or 64. Thus as either of the gears 62 or 64 is rotated similar rotating movement is imparted to the corresponding spool 61a 6 or 61h by virtue of the interlock between the lug 'lil and one of the apertures 69 in the gear.

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 9, a reversing arm 1I is mounted on thel platform 39 and is pivoted with Vrespect to the platform abouta screw 12. This arm fits beneath the gears 62 and 65. The. arm 1| extends ,substantially throughout the length of the platform 39, and is provided at each of its outer ends with upturned anges 13 and 14 spaced apart to provide therebetween at 15 a ribbon aperture that will be explained hereinafter. A centrally dis.- posed arm 16 isprovided on the reversing arm 'Il and extends transversely with respectV to the platform 39 between the two gears 62 and 64V. The endof this last mentioned arm 16 is provided with a lug 1.1 that has a more or less spherical shaped head.

Also pivotally mounted on the platform 39 by means of a screw 18 is a sleeve actuating arm 19 that is provided at its outer end with an upstanding shoulder 8D. An inwardly projecting post or lug 8l is provided on the upstanding shoulder and forms a seat for a compression spring 82 .that is disposed between the upstanding shoulder 35 and the lug 11 on the arm 15. A socket member 83 is provided on the inner end of spring 8,2 and this socket member has a sperical-like seat 84 that receives the lug 17 on the arrn 16. The other end of the sleeve actuating arm 19 is provided with a 1inger 35 that is heldY between a pair of spaced annular collar-like members 8B that are integral with the sleeve 55. f Y

The reversing arm 7| is adapted'to rock back and forth about the screw l2 betweenthe position shown in Fig. 5 and the position shown in Fig. 9. The compression spring 82 holds the arm 'Il in one or the other of vthese positions and as the arm 'H moves from one position to the other, this spring 82 is compressed betweenk the end of the lug 'VI and the shoulder 80 until the arm 'I5 reaches the dead-center position, at which time the reversing arm Il p is disposed with its long axis parallel to the shaft 42." As the arm i6 moves beyond dead-center the compression spring 82 forces the reversing arm 'Il to the end of its travel. f

As best shown in Fig. 9 the sleeve actuating arm 'I9 is contained in a depression in the wall of the platform 39, the walls of the depression being shown at 8l. During the movement of arm 'i6 as just described the sleeve actuating arm' 19 moves from the position shown in Fig. 9 where it rests against` one of the walls 8l of the depression to the position'shown in Fig. where it engages the other wall of the depression. Thus the sleeve actuating arm "I9 has limited motion and this motion is transmitted through the finger 85 to the sleeve 55 so as to slide the sleeve from one end of the shaft 42 shown in 9 to the other end of the shaft shown in Fig. 5. In this manner the movement of the sleeve uncouples the clutch element 53vdisposed at the right hand end of the shaft as viewed in Fig. 9 and then couples the clutch element 53 that is disposed at the other end of the shaft. 'sius the drive is shifted from gear 62 to gear Referring now to Fig. 1, one of the ribbon spools, which for purposes of illustration may be that show at 61a, is provided with a supply of ribbon 96. This ribbon passes through the adjacent aperture 15 at the end of reversing arm 1I, between the type portions of type bars lla and the adjacent platen I8 and then between the 'corresponding alfieri-.ureY 15 at.` the jpposte end of the reversing arm 1l onto the vribbon spool 61h. During the operation of the machine 'the ribbon '90 is `progressivelyfed vfrom spool 81a onto `spool SIb by virtue zofithe movement of keysli, themovement of the keys beingimf parted vto :the Aspools in the. manner previously described.

f bestfshowninfig. 1l the ribbon `'91) lis Vprovided adjacentto each ofits' opposite-'ends with an -butvvardly projecting lug 9.1 that iisA adapted to engage the walls of the adjacent aperture-15 -to 'aotua'te the lreversing arm "H. The position of each Vof these lugs -9l'on the ribbon isA such thatas' most ofthe ribbon is fed off of one spool S'l'aior 81h onto the other, `the lug 9| engages the Wall of the aperture to yactua'te the reversing arm 1| before all of the ribbon has .been removed from the adiacen't 4ribbon spool.

Asfshown 'in Fig.- 1 the reversing arm 1I has vhist completed its-reversing operation by virtue of `thefact `that the lug 9| disposed at the right Ahand side of the ribbon is in engagement with the walls of the aperture '15. As rthe machine is operated by depressing'thefkeys 2l the Vribbon -99 will commence to feed onto spool 61h "from spool 61a. VWhen itis time 'for a reversing operation to take' -effect the corresponding lug 9i that vis disposed near the end of the ribbon portion lcontainedon spool 6112 (see Fig. 1) is broughtinto engagement with thewalls of laperture J5 on theend of reversing arm 1| so that on continued movement of ithe ribbon 9| in a direction toward the platen '18, the reversing arm 1l Vis rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l, to commence the reversing operation. Aspreviously explained as soon as this 'clockwise movement vof -reversing arm 1| passes the `dead-center positionof arm 156, the compression vspring 82 snaps the reversing arm "Il through the `remaining clockwise movement of the. other extreme position, at Vwhich time the spool 61a is brought into driving relationship withthe shaft 42. Thus the-reversingfoperation :of the ribbon has been completed and the ribbon Aislnow Yfedon` the opposite ribbon spool.

Again'referring to Fig. 9, an-emergency sleeve actuating arm 91 is provided on the-reversing arm '1|4 on eachside of arm 15. Ifvthe sleeveactuating arm 19 should vfailtoshift the sleeve so as to disengage Athe `gears at one end and engage the gears atthe opposite-end, the emergency sleeve actuating farm k9'! is brought into contact kwith :adjacent collar 86 `to nudge the arm 19 past the -deadcenter position of the spring82`. The spring "thenvcauses'the arm 19 to complete'the reversing operation. This 'guarantees effecting the revers- :ing iof theribbonmechanism. and makesfor more dependability ofthe machineoperation,

We claim; e

l.V A ribbon mechanism for a machine `of the class described comprising va horizontal drive shaft, Va .pair of ribbon spools 4rotatably .mounted about vertical axes disposed over theshaft, drive means operativelyconnected to drive each .spool including separate clutch means, and selecting 'meansfor alternatively coupling yone or the other of the clutch means intodrivingrelationship with ,the drive shaft including a reversing armiadapted Vto pivot between two positionsa coupling member movable into engagement alternativelywith the separate clutch means, spring means urging the coupling member selectively into engageinentwth one or the other of the clutch means', and actuating arm means on the reversing arm 'engaging thefcouplingmember to'actuate the coupling member independently of the spring means.

v2. vThe combination of a platform, a vhorizontally .disposed shaft rotatably mounted ontthe platform, a pair of ribbonspools rotatably mounted on the platform about vvertical axes disposed above the shaft, a driven gear xed to rotate with each spool, a driving pinion loosely mounted on the shaft adjacent to each driven gear and meshing with the corresponding gear, clutch means for `alternatively .placing the driving pinions in driving relationship with the vshaft including a shiftable sleeve mounted on the shaft and keyed thereto, a reversing arm pivotally'mounted onthe platform, a toggle'member pivotally mounted on the platform and adapted .to pivot between -two positions from one side -of dead center to `the otherside ofrdeadcenter, the toggle member being connected tov theshiftable sleeve, spring means connecting the toggle member to theV reversing arm and urging the toggle'member into veither of its positions past dead center, and sleeve engaging .means .on the reversing :arm adapted to shift the sleeve .in .the event of failure of the toggle member.

RALPH E. ZUM BAHLEN.

LELAN-D H. SNYDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record 'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 691,252 vDyson Jan. 14, 1902 908,971 Dey Jan. 5, 1909 1,153,959 Sargent et a1. Sept..21,l915 1,209,860 Landsiedel Dec. 26,A 1916 1,422,617 Phelps July 11,; 1922 

